An optical projection apparatus includes an optical lighting system provided with a polarized beam splitter for polarizing a white light flux received from a white light source and combining the white light flux with other light fluxes, thereby taking out a predetermined polarized wave; a multi-lens array consisting of a plurality of lens elements; and an irradiator for separating the white light flux into three primary color light fluxes of red, green, and blue and irradiating each of the three color light fluxes on the same display element at an angle different from the others; and a projector for projecting the three primary color light fluxes modulated by the display element. The optical lighting system and the projector are disposed between the white light source and the display element.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An optical projection apparatus, comprising: an optical lighting system provided with a polarized beam splitter which polarizes a white light flux received from a white light source and combines the white light flux with other light flux, thereby to output a predetermined polarized wave; a multi-lens array having a plurality of lens elements to receive the polarized light from the polarized beam splitter; a light separator which separates the white light flux passed through the multi-lens array into three primary color light fluxes in the order of red, blue and green and irradiates the three color light fluxes on one display element; and a projection lens unit having a plurality of lens elements which project the three color light fluxes modulated by the display element to a screen; wherein the display element receives the irradiated three color light fluxes from the light separator in the order of red, blue and green; wherein the light separator separates the white light flux to red, blue and green in an order of weakness of a spectral energy distribution of the white light source.
2. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein dichroic mirrors DM 1 for transmitting cyan (blue and green), DM 2 for transmitting yellow (green and red), and DM 3 for transmitting red from the white light source are employed as the light separator which separates the white light flux from the white light source into three primary color light fluxes in the order of red, blue, and green and irradiating each of the three primary color light fluxes to the same display element at an angle different from the others, the mirrors DM 1 , DM 2 , and DM 3 being disposed in order so that the wavelength of each of the dichroic mirrors satisfies the corresponding condition shown below so as to assure a reflectivity of at least 50% λDM 1 >585 nm λDM 2 <520 nm λDM 3 >580 nm.
3. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the light separator is dichroic-coated mirrors which separates the white light flux into three primary color light fluxes passed through the multi-lens array in the order of red, blue and green and irradiates each of the primary color light fluxes on one display element at an angle different from the others, so that the dichroic-coated mirrors are disposed to let a p-polarized light component be reflected as s-polarized light, the display element being provided with a ½ wavelength plate at an optical output side thereof, whereby light fluxes modulated by the display element are restored to p-polarized light again.
4. A projection type image display apparatus, comprising; a white light source: a light separator which separates white light flux output from the white light source and which passes separated flux through a polarized beam splitter and a micro-lens array in order of a red light flux, a blue light flux, and a green light flux in accordance with a proceeding direction of the light flux, and which injects separated light fluxes in an order of the red, blue and green light fluxes to a light injection surface side of a liquid crystal panel; and a projection lens unit having a plurality of lens elements which project the three color light fluxes modulated by the display element to a screen; the light separator including: a first dichroic mirror which transmits a cyan (blue and green) light flux; a second dichroic mirror which transmits a yellow (green and red) light flux; and a third dichroic mirror which transmits a red light flux, with the first to third dichroic mirrors being disposed in accordance with a proceeding direction of the white light flux.
5. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein blue light flux irradiates on substantially a center of an injection pupil of the lens elements of the projection lens unit.
6. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a part of red light flux is dispersed at a joint between adjacent ones of the lens elements of the projection lens unit.
7. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein blue light flux irradiates on substantially a center of an injection pupil of the lens elements of the projection lens unit.
8. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein a part of red light flux is dispersed at a joint between adjacent ones of the lens elements of the projection lens unit.
9. An optical projection apparatus, comprising: an optical lighting means provided with a polarized beam splitter means for polarizing a white light flux received from a white light source and combining the white light flux with other light flux, for outputting a predetermined polarized wave; a multi-lens means having a plurality of lens elements for receiving the polarized light from the polarized beam splitter; a light separator means for separating the white light flux passed through the multi-lens means into three primary color light fluxes in the order of red, blue and green and irradiating the three color light fluxes on one display element means; and a projection lens means having a plurality of lens elements for projecting the three color light fluxes modulated by the display element means to a screen; wherein the display element means receives the irradiated three color light fluxes from the light separator means in the order of red, blue and green; wherein the light separator means is for separating the white light flux to red, blue and green in an order of weakness of a spectral energy distribution of the white light source.
10. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein dichroic mirror means DM 1 for transmitting cyan (blue and green), DM 2 for transmitting yellow (green and red), and DM 3 for transmitting red from the white light source are employed as the light separating means for separating the white light flux from the white light source into three primary color light fluxes in the order of red, blue, and green and irradiating each of the three primary color light fluxes to the same display element means at an angle different from the others, the mirror means DM 1 , DM 2 , and DM 3 being disposed in order so that the wavelength of each of the dichroic mirror means satisfies the corresponding condition shown below so as to assure a reflectivity of at least 50% λDM 1 >585 nm λDM 2 <520 nm λDM 3 >580 nm.
11. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the light separator means is dichroic-coated mirror means for separating the white light flux into three primary color light fluxes passed through the multi-lens means in the order of red, blue and green and for irradiating each of the primary color light fluxes on one display element means an angle different from the others, so that the dichroic-coated mirror means are disposed to let a p-polarized light component be reflected as s-polarized light, the display element being provided with a ½ wavelength plate means at an optical output side thereof for restoring light fluxes modulated by the display element means to p-polarized light again.
12. A projection type image display apparatus, comprising: a white light source; a light separator means for separating white light flux output from the white light source and passing separated flux through a polarized beam splitter means and a micro-lens array means in order of a red light flux, a blue light flux, and a green light flux in accordance with a proceeding direction of the light flux, and for injecting separated light fluxes in an order of the red, blue and green light fluxes to a light injection surface side of a liquid crystal panel; and a projection tens means having a plurality of lens elements for projecting the three color light fluxes modulated by the display element means to a screen; the light separator means including: a first dichroic mirror means for transmitting a cyan (blue and green) light flux; a second dichroic mirror means for transmitting a yellow (green and red) light flux; and a third dichroic mirror means for transmitting a red light flux, with the first to third dichroic mirror means being disposed in accordance with a proceeding direction of the white light flux.
13. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein blue light flux irradiates on substantially a center of an injection pupil of the lens elements of the projection lens means.
14. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein a part of red light flux is dispersed at a joint between adjacent ones of the lens elements of the projection lens means.
15. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , wherein blue light flux irradiates on substantially a center of an injection pupil of the lens elements of the projection lens means.
16. An optical projection apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , wherein a part of red light flux is dispersed at a joint between adjacent ones of the lens elements of the projection lens means.
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May 30, 2003
October 18, 2005
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